Irish soprano Ava Dodd has won the Verbier Festival’s Prix Yves Paternot. The prize was awarded to the 25-year-old soprano in recognition of being the ‘most promising musician’ of the Swiss Festival’s 30th annual Academy for young professional musicians.

Dodd receives 10,000 CHF as well as an invitation to performer in a future season. A contribution of up to 15,000 CHF is also to be made available to support her artistic and professional development.

Speaking of receiving the award, Ava Dodd said: ‘I was so excited and shocked to hear. The talent is insane at Verbier and I can’t really believe that I was chosen. My career is at that really crucial stage…I’ve just moved home to Dublin to begin a life as a freelancer.’

Previously a member of the Stadttheater Klagenfurt ensemble, Dodd has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTE Concert Orchestra, Der Nürnberger Symphoniker, Das Kärntner Sinfonieorchester, and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. She adds this new prize to previous accolades including first prize in the Northern Ireland Opera’s Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition, where she was named the 'Young Opera Voice of 2019'.

The Academy’s Atelier Lyrique programme for singers, of which Dodd was a part, accepts musicians for either or both of the Atelier’s opera and/or song programmes. It has among its alumni internationally recognised opera singers and recitalists and is run by Head of Song James Baillieu and Head of Opera Caroline Dowdle.